The hybrid family sedan market is a challenging, low-volume segment that’s seen the demise of hybridized cars like the Honda Accord Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid after just a few model years. After 2011, the Nissan Altima Hybrid is joining the great big hybrid car highway in the sky, too.
Hybrid cars aren’t big sellers. And there isn’t room for everyone in this playing field. Hyundai knows it, but they’ve just launched a gas-electric version of their new Sonata anyways.
The brand’s first-ever hybrid competes with the very much alive-and-kicking Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion hybrids. Both of these come from companies with years of hybrid sales success. Hyundai has none.
Only the best will survive here—and for the Sonata to stick around with the established competition, Hyundai would have to nail it.
Mostly on-the-ball styling
Styling mostly hits the mark. The new Sonata is a real looker, and so is the gas-electric variant with its BlueDrive badges and numerous hybrid-specific cosmetics working towards an upscale, modern and futuristic look. It’s cohesive, daring and different, even if the wheels look like a food processor’s coleslaw attachment, and the fascia resembles a guppy fish that’s gone to a rave party.
Sonata’s nicely trimmed, modern and high-utility interior with plenty of storage hits the mark, too. Good visibility, easy-to-use controls and a generous list of standard features were noted, even on the base model which stickered at about 30 grand. Push-button start, heated seats, Bluetooth and automatic climate control were all included.
There’s surprisingly ample space for four adults too, though trunk space does suffer slightly to accommodate a cutting-edge lithium polymer hybrid drive battery.
Hybrid cars aren’t big sellers. And there isn’t room for everyone in this playing field. Hyundai knows it, but they’ve just launched a gas-electric version of their new Sonata anyways.
The brand’s first-ever hybrid competes with the very much alive-and-kicking Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion hybrids. Both of these come from companies with years of hybrid sales success. Hyundai has none.
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| The new Sonata is a real looker, and so is the gas-electric variant with its BlueDrive badges and numerous hybrid-specific cosmetics working towards an upscale, modern and futuristic look.(Photo:Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |
Only the best will survive here—and for the Sonata to stick around with the established competition, Hyundai would have to nail it.
Mostly on-the-ball styling
Styling mostly hits the mark. The new Sonata is a real looker, and so is the gas-electric variant with its BlueDrive badges and numerous hybrid-specific cosmetics working towards an upscale, modern and futuristic look. It’s cohesive, daring and different, even if the wheels look like a food processor’s coleslaw attachment, and the fascia resembles a guppy fish that’s gone to a rave party.
Sonata’s nicely trimmed, modern and high-utility interior with plenty of storage hits the mark, too. Good visibility, easy-to-use controls and a generous list of standard features were noted, even on the base model which stickered at about 30 grand. Push-button start, heated seats, Bluetooth and automatic climate control were all included.
There’s surprisingly ample space for four adults too, though trunk space does suffer slightly to accommodate a cutting-edge lithium polymer hybrid drive battery.
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| Sonata’s nicely trimmed, modern and high-utility interior with plenty of storage hits the mark. (Photo:Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |